Is it possible to love your work life? Can you find work that is meaningful and fulfilling? Is it possible to re-engineer your work day to have it align with your values and your life?I am here to tell you, yes, you can because it’s something that I’ve done. See, I was in profession which was rewarding and intellectually challenging but soul-crushing and stressful.As an attorney, I was able to do a lot of good but at a personal expense. My hours erratic, the interaction with the people I worked painful and stressful events during the day kept me up at night.I was able to make a dramatic shift in my career and my work life.I transitioned to...

work that was more soulful and empowering to others. The transition was smoother than I expected and I’ve been able to live with the compromises it took to achieve this lifestyle.I’ve given up a financially rewarding lifestyle for more freedom and fulfillment. It was a priceless exchange.Here are 9 ways you can cultivate more happiness in your career. 1. Don’t make decisions solely on money.You will never be satisfied if you’re pursuing monetary compensation. You will constantly want more and seek more. But step back a minute. Take conscious decisions based on what is important to you – what you value – not what is deposited into your account twice a month. Money and finances can be a factor but don’t allow it to be THE factor.More money should not mean you should take one job over the other. Or a promotion. Or leave the company you’re at.If you’re on a spending binge and have to earn to feed your purchases, you will find yourself in a frustrating and unfulfilling work situation.2. Chose a lifestyle, instead of a career.Decide ahead of time what type of lifestyle you want to lead. Do you want to work at home and be with your kids? Or work 12 hours a day and spend the night at work sometimes?Yes to nights, weekends and unlimited overtime? Or yes to yourself?Decide how much of you, you’re going to give to your employer first.If you’re in the rat race, look for an exit. If you have to down-grade and simplify your life, take small steps to reduce your expenses and slow down your life.3. Focus on the task at hand.Serial multi-tasker? Use the power of ruthless focus to reduce the number of items you’re working on. Stop overwhelming yourself with multiple projects so you can complete one task at a time.A single-minded focus will help you be more effective, get more done and have less anxiety in your life.One task at a time. And the most important task first.4. Allow for down time.How often do you take your breaks and your lunch hour at work? You may regularly chose to skip them to get your work done but as you know, your work never gets done.The projects will continue to come, there will be more people who need your help and there will always be something of urgency.Your work will pile up on your desk. Your emails continually refreshing with new messages.Don’t work yourself to exhaustion. Take daily breaks and disengage from your work. Take regular vacations every year.Go home on time.5. Create healthy boundaries between work and home.On the subject of going home on time, learn to draw boundaries between work and home. Between your career and your personal life.Work ends when you go home so you have time for you or your family.Don’t make it a regular habit of taking work projects home. Shut off your work smart phone if you don’t need it on. No need to respond to email throughout the evening and night.Learn to shut off your phone and stop looking at work emails at home. Your calls and messages will be waiting for you the very next day at work.6. Say “no”.The best thing you can do in your work and career life is to say “no” often.Say “no” to projects if you can. “No” to those who want to pile extra work on you. “No” to weekend projects and overtime. “No” to promotions or raises if they demand a big sacrifice from your current situation.If it requires doing “more” work to get ahead in the workplace, ask yourself what it really means to get ahead? Is more duties, more work and more obligations getting ahead? And naturally, more work comes with more stress and worry.Or is it simply insanity? Are you trading your more precious commodity, time, in exchange for cash? How much is that worth to you?7. Be ready to let go.Are you a workaholic?Are you indebted to your career because of mortgage payments, student loans or credit card bills?Careers can become like a never-stopping merry-go-round where you continue to give more of yourself in return for higher rewards, like money or fancy titles.Do not feel compelled to stay in any job. Your life is worth more than any job you’ll have.Create a plan if you need to be able to get out of the line of work or the company you’re working in.Let loose of the grips of your employment and be ready to walk out on it when it no longer serves your life.8. Live nearby.This may be one of the easiest ways to make your work like a little happier. Once again, try to consider your physical proximity to your workplace before you take the job.How worthwhile is a job that demands an hour or more of your commute each way? Long commute times, traffic and far away work locations take more time away from yourself and your family.The further your work, the less time you have to work on those things that you care more about in life.Consider moving closer to work or work at home as much as you can.9. Do meaningful work. The best way to have less stress and enjoy your work life is to do work that is meaningful to you.It doesn’t necessarily have to be a job brimming with passion but are you making a difference?Are you delivering a product that helps others? A service which improves lives?Does the work fulfill you?If it doesn’t, your work or career will be mind-numbing exercises in tolerance and frustration. You’ll be working a job simply to retire.Look for an exit plan. Find a way to transition into another career or line of work. There are other options and opportunities. It just takes a little courage to make a shift.Work can be stressful but you have the power to take some simple steps to make it work for you. Some planning and intentional actions can bring you more happiness and work fulfillment.Create healthy boundaries and pursue your career with consciousness. Ask questions and know why you’re doing what you’re doing. Be prepared to make necessary changes to get excited about Monday mornings.What do you do to find happiness and fulfillment at work? Is it time for you to make some changes?

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